New Albany fire museum must find new station

Curtis Peters

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - A deadline is nearing for a local museum to find a new space. Property owners are selling the building where New Albany's Vintage Fire Museum is located.

Supporters are working to save and preserve the museum's rare collection of steamers, carriages and trucks, some dating back to the 1700s. Its current location will be history when the owners, Coyle Auto Dealers, sell the former dealership property at Spring Street and 4th Street.

Curtis Peters is working to save the collection from going back into storage. Most of the vehicles and items were part of Fred Conway's collection, a longtime New Albany businessman.

"The Coyles are wonderful to work with, but we just couldn't put together the financial package," Peters said.

Peters said the museum is aiming to stay in historic downtown New Albany and continue education and preservation.

"We're optimistic that something really good is going to work out and we're very appreciative of all the people who have been supportive," he said.

According to Peters, the museum's artifacts and vehicles must be moved by this fall. New Albany city leaders are considering a $100,000 financial incentive through the redevelopment commission to keep the museum in the downtown area.